A song in his heart and law by his side

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Marc Gallant / Winnipeg Free Press archives

RAISED in a family rife with domestic violence, Ron Meyers rose to become a well-respected judge pushing for family violence courts who, after hanging up his judicial robes for the day, would tread the boards of local musical theatre stages.

The former provincial court judge -- who only retired on Jan. 4 -- died Friday morning of a massive heart attack. He was 75.

In a statement, provincial court Chief Judge Ken Champagne said the sudden passing of Meyers "has brought great sadness" to both judges and court staff.

"He was a great friend and mentor to many and his jovial and approachable style endeared him to all who came to know him. Ron Meyers was a generous, involved and caring human being and his loss will be felt by many in Manitoba's legal system."

Veteran defence counsel Hymie Weinstein said Meyers' passing from a heart attack was so sudden "everyone is in a state of shock."

"I don't remember hearing anyone being critical of Ron Meyers on the bench," he said. "Most times it was a joy being before him. He had a sense of humour and he wasn't arrogant. Sometimes he gave lawyers a rough time, but it was done with humour and a smile."

Tony Kavanaugh, president of the Manitoba Bar Association, said the organization thought so highly of Meyers it honoured him with its Distinguished Service Award last year -- the first provincial court judge to be honoured with it.

"He just lived life to the fullest and our lives will be emptier without him," Kavanaugh said.

Meyers was also a fixture on the stage of the Winnipeg Press Club's annual Beer and Skits and the Manitoba Bar Association's annual fundraising theatre show for the Manitoba Theatre Centre. Meyers already had a role in this May's production of The Producers and was singing at Monday's rehearsal.

MTC artistic director Steven Schipper called Meyers "an artistic director moonlighting as a judge."

"He researched new musicals, old musicals, all musicals and inspired Rainbow Stage's artistry. He was also an actor in many of our MBA co-productions... he'll be sorely missed on and off stage."

Meyers also assisted behind the scenes, travelling to New York City and other U.S. cities numerous times to help pick Rainbow Stage shows and serving 18 years as a board and executive member of the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre.

Ken Peter, Rainbow Stage's executive producer, said Meyers "was a walking encyclopedia of shows."

"You could talk to him about any theatrical show and most times he would start singing songs from the show. I wondered, 'how does he remember these words?'

"He will be missed by the city's artistic community because he gave so freely of himself."

In the life story Meyers contributed to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba's Endowment Book of Life, he credited the Young Men's Hebrew Association's third-floor auditorium stage and gymnasium for his lifelong love of theatre and sports.

"I lived for singing, speaking, writing and basketball," Meyers wrote.

"If it were possible, I would have lived there 24 hours a day."

Jane Graham, a former president of the Winnipeg Press Club and a fellow Beer and Skits cast member, said Meyers "was very dedicated to the roles he played. "He would practise and practise... and he would laugh at himself."

Meyers was also inducted into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame as a builder and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame's media roll of honour.

Meyers was longtime treasurer of the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association, a position he still held at his death.

Bob Picken, the association's secretary, said Meyers put himself through university covering high school and university sports for the Winnipeg Tribune.

"He always was interested in sports," Picken said.

Meyers is survived by his wife, Tzivie, sons Jeffrey and Brian and daughter, Adrienne.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

A life well-lived

began practising law just after his mother died in 1962, specializing in family law.

took the job of secretary of the law society's Legal Aid Program in 1969, with the understanding the province would begin fully funding it. Became Legal Aid Manitoba's first executive director when the province created it in 1971.

appointed a provincial court judge in 1977.

in 1990, he helped organize Canada's first family violence court.

in 1994, after being quoted in a Free Press story recounting his own abuse-torn childhood, including his father's jabbing of a lit cigarette into his mother's eye and using a razor strap on him and his younger brother, he was abruptly reassigned to rural circuit court. Judicial officials never confirmed what sparked Meyers' transfer.

one of the last prominent cases Meyers presided over was the teenager who laughed when she heard the truck she was a passenger in had killed a cab driver. "I saw a girl who revelled in her smugness," Meyers said in June 2008, while sentencing the then-16-year-old to two years of supervised probation.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 16, 2010 B1